<p>To Outwestmom. First let me apologize if I offended you especially since I dont know you or anyone else employed by the Red Cross. But I stand behind my opinion. I dont know any “steps” as you put it, that is why I was looking for suggestions. As a matter of fact I emailed the Red Cross in DC explaining my idea and asking for their help. They emailed back and, unlike you, at least offered by stating they will direct the email to the proper department. I commend you on your work with the Red Cross but since you describe yourself as an employee, I will assume you draw a paycheck, where do you think that money comes from? I suspect I hit more than a nerve. I will say again, the Red Cross does, has done, and is doing a wonderful service, but there are different avenues of attacking a problem and being different doesnt mean they’re bad or wrong. Again, accept my apology to you. There was no need for your rude attack, I respect your views, please respect mine.</p>
<p>Cyssasgranma, I apologize also. Yes you did hit a nerve because I think we do good work, which you did acknowledge. You’re right, I was rude. I’ll make sure I check my tone and words next time. Salaries come from people who donate to support the general mission of the Red Cross but do not come from the donations that are given for a specific disaster or need. We honor the donation request of the individual giving the money. And you are right, there are many ways of attacking a problem, hopefully many people will step forward and donate or help in what ever way they think is best. Please accept that I wrote and posted too hastily. As you can imagine, it’s been a crazy week. Sorry!</p>
<p>There are a number of countries that have offered the U.S their condolences.</p>
<p><a href=“Yahoo News: Latest and Breaking News, Headlines, Live Updates, and More”>Yahoo News: Latest and Breaking News, Headlines, Live Updates, and More;
<p>Our local district attorney (Mobile) was on the air last night recommending “give.org” as a good place to look for legitimate charities, and tips for avoiding “helping” scams. This is not the exact link he was talking about, but it should get you to the website, and look for “Tips”
<a href=“http://give.org/news/katrina.asp[/url]”>http://give.org/news/katrina.asp</a></p>
<p>I don’t want to throw water on the parade, but I would be wary about adopting a family because, unfortunately, as we have seen in other disasters, there are plenty of con artists who are out to make big bucks.</p>
<p>I also think that given the enormity of the tragedy, even people who are honest may be so depressed, confused, and overwhelmed, that they may have a very hard time making sound decisions about what to do with money. I would hope that any charitable organizations who are helping people also would be providing them with counseling.</p>
<p>This is why IMO the best way to help is through a reputable organization. I also think that charities need to start for the hurricane victims programs that will allow donors to give money in a way that helps groups of people and communities rebuild. This would be similar to programs like Save the Children where you “sponsor” a child, but the money really goes to help the community with projects assisting everyone.</p>
<p>To Northstarmom. Thanks for the input. Yes the concerns you mentioned are very legitimate and I have thought about that and a few other things too. Im not so sure this is going to be a feasible endeavor, however, at the risk of sounding self centered, I think the thinking and talking and plannig , etc gave me a form of release of the frustration and sadness I feel for these people.
I do have an organization I WILL be donating to, financially and materially where I know exactly where it will be used, by and for whom. So I feel much better about this… I am also, thru my congregation, considering opening my home to a family from the area. I realize this will be a long term ‘adoption’ as these people will come here with absolutely nothing to their name, and will be totally dependant on me for shelter, food, personal necessities and transportation and for an undetermined amount of time. Since they will be comming thru my congregation though, I will know who I will have in my home.
Thanks to everyone for all your ideas, suggestions and concerns, the long long road to helping these people stretches far into the future, I hope we continue to remember and help for as long as its needed.</p>
<p>"I am also, thru my congregation, considering opening my home to a family from the area. "</p>
<p>Please say more about how you’re doing this. It may be possible for my congregation to have a similar program.</p>
<p>NSM - does your denomination/faith have some sort of national or regional organization. We are Methodist, our efforts toward housing are going through the area Conference, which would be a regional association. My partner’s synagogue is finding homes for displaced Jewish families with its’ members through a comparable regional organization. Individual churches are organizing work and relief teams for the immediate crunch (remember I’m in Mobile, so we can drive over there when we can get gas), but long term housing needs to go through a larger org than an individual congregation - these folks have to find their family members, get jobs, etc.</p>
<p>Cangel,
Thanks for the suggestion. I will check with the American Friends Service Committee to see what the Quakers are doing. </p>
<p>Please keep me posted on what your church does.</p>
<p>This is crossposted from the “Tulane Emergency” forum:</p>
<p>Xavier - United Negro College Fund </p>
<hr>
<p>The United Negro College Fund has set up a mechanism for support of the three historically Black institutions to receive donations for Katrina relief. All three - Xavier, Dillard, and Tougaloo - have tiny endowments. The first two, located in NO, will not have the wherewithal to rebuild and reopen without massive contributions.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.uncf.org/[/url]”>http://www.uncf.org/</a></p>
<p>As of last report, there is still no word about the 400 Xavier students trapped in the dorm without food and water on the 5th and 6th floor (with floodwater up to the 3rd floor at last report.)</p>
<p>When I know something concrete I will post. We are taking care of people at our hospital coming over from MS (we’re about 15 miles away), but a lot of the individual relief effort is waiting for gas - they are coming here for gas. We (my family) are taking care of a co-worker’s family who lost everything, but their house is standing, and things are progressing well. Every other house in my neighborhood has a couple of cars parked in the driveway with MS plates - family and friends being sheltered. The last I heard from our church is that basically we are all waiting on gas/diesel fuel - much of it is reserved for the power company, the tree trucks, the police/fire and the military, understandably - the type of person to person help we have discussed here is waiting on gas, except for very small scale neighborly stuff.</p>
<p>I’ve just been notified that our local boy scouts are collecting clothing and personal items for up to 1000 hurricane victims relocating to our city. Maybe this is occurring in other areas, too. Another avenue might be your church, as our church has adopted refugees in the past.</p>
<p>Xavier students - there was a news broadcast last nite - friday pm - it showed Jesse Jackson at the school assisting with evac of students there - so hopefully they are being taken care of.</p>
<p>Outwestmom: No need to apologize. Cys, you were out of line with your comments. You are in no position to dress down an organization like the Red Cross.</p>
<p>I, too, am a member of the Red Cross, and have been since I was 17. I am a volunteer member of the Red Cross. I don’t draw a paycheck, and everything, I mean EVERYTHING, I have ever done to help has been in the spirit of Community. </p>
<p>The Red Cross depends on its volunteers, who constitute 97 percent of the total work force, to carry on the humanitarian work. Cys, your arrogance incites defensiveness from those of us who have volunteered countless hours of service, in my case, for 31 years. Adopting one family is a wonderful way to help, for the families who want to be <em>adopted.</em> For every family in need that I have ever worked for, their desire has been to gain back their independence, their privacy, and their dignity. </p>
<p>If you want to help, help. Your apology, however, remains arrogant.</p>
<p>Slugg, your opinion and your entitled to it. Im entitled to mine and your nasty and meaningless accusations are not going to change it. I merely made a statement about MY feelings, if you dont like it that’s fine, but dont try to ram your views down my throat. Talk about arrogance, telling someone else what they should or shouldn’t do or say.<br>
From the tone of your post, I would say your screenname suits you well!</p>
<p>Looks like a few need to chill out - personal opinions - you are entitled to yours - but there is NO need for the negative or insulting rebuttles here - are we all adults?? or children who don’t know better??</p>
<p>On the positive side, I heard that Finland is sending troops to assist!</p>
<p>Jeepmom, you’re absolutely right. I lowered myself to Sluggbugg’s when I replied to her post, but I sure do feel better. I will no longer be posting or reading this board as I see that it is not a place where you can speak freely. It seems that if you say something someone doesnt agree with or like it becomes a personal vendetta to “tell you off.” I wont have any part of that type of interaction and I’m sorry that I responded to Sluggbugg. It was nice talking to most of you and sharing concern for those in need.</p>